News Bulletin

Results of the 2009 Survey of Research and Development Released

[Introduction]
The SBJ released the results of the 2009 Survey of Research and Development on December 10, 2009.
The Survey has been conducted as of March 31 since 1953 to obtain basic data for promoting science and technology in Japan. It studies the annual R&D activities of business enterprises, non-profit institutions and public organizations, universities and colleges.
The survey results are used for estimates of national accounts statistics, and analyses in White Papers released by the government such as that on Science and Technology.

[Summary]
Japan's total expenditure on R&D during fiscal 2008 stood at 18,800 billion yen, a decrease of 0.8% (144 billion yen) from the previous fiscal year. This was the first decrease in 9 years. Despite this, expenditure on R&D as a percentage of the GDP reached 3.78%, which marked a record high.

Figure1 Changes in R&D Expenditure

Of the total expenditure, business enterprises spent 13,635 billion yen, universities and colleges 3,445 billion yen, and non-profit institutions and public organizations 1,721 billion yen.

Compared with the previous fiscal year, expenditure by non-profit institutions and public organizations, universities and colleges increased by 1.8% (31 billion yen) and 0.6% (21 billion yen), respectively, while that by business enterprises decreased by 1.4% (196 billion yen).

By source of funds, 15,388 billion yen came from the non-government sector, accounting for 81.9% of the total, while 3,346 billion yen came from the central and local government sector.

As of March 31, 2009, the number of workers engaged in R&D activities was 1,065 thousand, an increase of 0.9% (9.9 thousand) from the previous year. Of these, researchers accounted for 839 thousand, an increase of 1.4% (11.7 thousand) from the previous year. The number of female researchers was 116.1 thousand, accounting for 13.0%, which marked a record high.

With regard to the technology balance of payments by business enterprises, receipts from technology exports stood at 2,226 billion yen, a decrease of 10.3% (257 billion yen) from the previous fiscal year. This was the first decrease in 21 years. Payments for technology imports stood at 600 billion yen, a decrease of 15.5% (110 billion yen) from the previous fiscal year. This was the first decrease in 6 years. Consequently, the trade balance stood at 1,625 billion yen, a decrease of 8.3% (146 billion yen) from the previous fiscal year. This was the first decrease in 16 years.

Figure2 Technology balance of payments

Notes:
Financial flows such as R&D expenditure are reported for the year ending on the latest settling day prior to March 31, 2009, while
the total for R&D personnel is as of March 31, 2009.